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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
1. Overview
Proposal: to create a major in African-American Studies at the University of Montana- Missoula.
2. Provide a one-paragraph description of the proposed program. Be specific about what degree, major, minor or
option is sought.
The African-American Studies Program the University of Montana-Missoula is requesting the creation of a major in
African-American Studies. The proposed major is budget neutral as it relies on existing courses at UM, those already
taught or cross-listed with African-American Studies, an academic unit supported by extant staff and administration.
At present, there is no major in African-American Studies or any related interdisciplinary field in the state of
Montana. Our program currently offers a minor and an undergraduate certificate. The proposed AAS major will
combine courses, students, and faculty from the Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, and another interdisciplinary
program, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
3. Need
A. To what specific need is the institution responding in developing the proposed program?
At the present time, students in the state of Montana cannot major in African-American Studies. As the
program has grown, UM students have begun to ask why the African-American Studies program does not offer
a major in addition to the minor and certificate option. Alums of the program have also publicly indicated their
support for the development of a new African-American Studies major. The program thus is responding to the
interest of current students with the support of our alums.
B. How will students and any other affected constituencies be served by the proposed program?
Our students will gain the ability to major in African-American Studies, thus preparing them to speak with even
greater sophistication and nuance about one of the most pressing problems of the nation as a whole and the
state in particular. We also send a strong message to our alums that the University is paying attention to issues
of racial diversity, thereby increasing trust with a constituency keenly interested in becoming more involved in
supporting the university system. The success of the funding campaign for the Doss Scholarship for AfricanAmerican Studies students is just one indication of the potential that exists to draw African-American Studies
alums into greater involvement in University endeavors.
C. What is the anticipated demand for the program? How was this determined?
We sent a survey to 100 students enrolled in African-American Studies courses during the 2014-15 school year.
Twenty-four of the 35 survey respondents (more than 70%) indicated that if an African-American Studies major
had been available while they were students at UM, they would have taken it. Students wrote glowing
comments such as:
I think it is a great opportunity for students. The wealth of scholarly study is growing in this area and is
important for understanding history and the world.
I think it would be an awesome opportunity. “Black: Africa to Hip-Hop” was my favorite class so far. It
was incredibly informative. I would love to take another class like that.
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
It is an important major which many students-both in and out of state- are interested in pursuing, and I
feel we should provide it as an option.
I would switch my major to that for sure.
It would be amazing if the school did this. Not many schools offer this major and it would be a great
way to attract people to the school.
If U of M has the 3rd oldest AAS program in the nation, it only makes sense that we would offer it as a
Major program. It's something we should be proud of; AAS really helps students to understand racial
issues and especially inequality in the United States.
Would be really cool!
One student even opined, “It's a great idea! Is there anyway we could make it required for everyone?” While
we do not advocate universal requirement, the student’s enthusiasm underlines how much interest is present
within the student body.
4. Institutional and System Fit
A. What is the connection between the proposed program and existing programs at the institution?
African-American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that has a long history of working with numerous units
and departments from across the university community. Faculty from anthropology, economics, English
literature, geography, history, modern languages, music, political science, sociology, and women, gender, and
sexuality studies teach courses that count for African-American Studies courses, serve on subcommittees, and
help coordinate AAS-sponsored events.
B. Will approval of the proposed program require changes to any existing programs at the institution? If so,
please describe.
No.
C. Describe what differentiates this program from other, closely related programs at the institution (if
appropriate).
There are no other closely related programs at the University of Montana or in the MUS system as a whole.
D. How does the proposed program serve to advance the strategic goals of the institution?
Diversity is one of UM’s four underlying values. This new major will, as has been the case in AAS since its
inception in 1968, serve the university’s interest in both “recognizing and embracing” racial differences. It will
also, by focusing so carefully on race, welcome and include “members of those groups who have historically
been subject to discrimination and are still underrepresented in the campus community” (UM Diversity
Strategic Plan, 2009). Our award-winning faculty members are skilled and adept at pursuing challenging topics
like race both in the classroom and without. A new major would take our program to new level, build on the
kind of excitement and student interest indicated above, and bring more students into our classes.
E. Describe the relationship between the proposed program and any similar programs within the Montana
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
University System. In cases of substantial duplication, explain the need for the proposed program at an
additional institution. Describe any efforts that were made to collaborate with these similar programs; and if
no efforts were made, explain why. If articulation or transfer agreements have been developed for the
substantially duplicated programs, please include the agreement(s) as part of the documentation.
No similar major exists in the MUS system.
5. Program Details
A. Provide a detailed description of the proposed curriculum. Where possible, present the information in the
form intended to appear in the catalog or other publications. NOTE: In the case of two-year degree programs
and certificates of applied science, the curriculum should include enough detail to determine if the
characteristics set out in Regents’ Policy 301.12 have been met.
The African-American studies major is an interdisciplinary program requiring thirty-six (36) credits drawn
from a combination of disciplines: anthropology, economics, English literature, geography, history, modern
languages, music, political science, sociology, and women, gender, and sexuality studies.
Core Courses

AAS/HSTA 141HX Black: Africa to Hip-Hop and Beyond

ANTY 122S Race and Minorities

AAS/HSTA 342H African-American History to 1865

AAS/HSTA 343H African-American History Since 1865

SOCI 220S Race, Gender and Class

SOCI 325 Social Stratification
18 credits
Electives
15 credits required from the following electives, 6 credits of which must be in an upper division course (i.e. 300
or 400 level). One of the upper-division courses must fulfill the upper-division writing requirement for the major
(eligible courses marked with an asterisk below). In addition, of the 15 total elective credits, classes must be
taken in at least three different disciplines.
African-American Studies
 AAS 191 Special Topics
 AAS 208H Discovering Africa
 AAS 260 African Americans and Native Americans
 AAS/HSTA 262 Abolitionism: The First Civil Rights Movement
 AAS 291 Special Topics
 AAS 372 African-American Identity
 AAS/HSTA 347 Voodoo, Muslim, Church: Black Religion
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
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AAS 391 Special Topics
AAS/HSTA 415 The Black Radical Tradition*
AAS/HSTA 417 Prayer and Civil Rights*
AAS 491 Special Topics
AAS 493 Omnibus
Anthropology
 ANTY 349 Social Change in Non-Western Societies
 ANTY 330X Peoples and Cultures of the World
Economics
 ECNS 217X Economic Development
 ECNS 312 Labor Economics
English/Film Studies
 FILM 484 – Film Directors (with topic approved by AAS director)
 LIT 304 U.S. Writers of Color*
 LIT 343 African-American Literature*
 LIT 420 Critical Theory
 LIT X91 Special Topics (as approved by AAS director)
Geography
 GPHY 141 XS Geography of World Regions
 GPHY 243X Africa
History
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HSTR 262 Islamic Civilization: The Classical Age
HSTA 361 The American South: From Slavery to Civil Rights
HSTA 382H History of American Law
HSTA 418 Women and Slavery*
HSTA 419 Southern Women in Black and White*
Modern Languages
 FRCH 339 Survey of African Cinema
Music

MUSI 130L History of Jazz
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
Political Science
 PSCI 326 Politics of Africa
 PSCI 348 US Multicultural Politics
 PSCI 443 Politics of Social Movements
Sociology
 SOCI 441 Capstone in Inequality and Social Justice*
 SOCI 443 Sociology of Poverty
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
 WGSS 363 Feminist Theory and Methods*
Capstone:
Each student must also perform a 3-credit capstone project as an independent study in which they conduct a
research project, service project, or artistic project focused on an issue pertinent to the African-American
community. All projects must be approved by the AAS director.
B. Describe the planned implementation of the proposed program, including estimates of numbers of students at
each stage.
Implementation of the proposed major will happen immediately. All listed courses are already taught and
funded through their respective departments/programs.
6. Resources
A. Will additional faculty resources be required to implement this program? If yes, please describe the need and
indicate the plan for meeting this need.
None.
B. Are other, additional resources required to ensure the success of the proposed program? If yes, please
describe the need and indicate the plan for meeting this need.
None.
7. Assessment
How will the success of the program be measured?
Success of the AAS major will be measured by the current assessment tools used by the AAS Program and by the
University of Montana. AAS courses are already evaluated, as is the overall program, when AAS minors sit for an
exit interview before graduation.
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM
8. Process Leading to Submission
Describe the process of developing and approving the proposed program. Indicate, where appropriate,
involvement by faculty, students, community members, potential employers, accrediting agencies, etc.
The proposed AAS major was a result of discussions between faculty, AAS alums, and students.